Our Story

Our Story - Page Text Content

S: The Story of Tom and Augustine

FC: Our Story | By: Tom & Augustine RHODES

1: My Dearest Tom, | Meeting you has been one of the highlights of my life. I wanted to make a book with pictures and memories of ours that I will never forget, and I hope you will not either. When I think of the many memories of our time together, I am reminded of one of the most touching things that you did for me; you found my favorite song Romeo and Juliet by Hubert Laws and played it for me. Things like this truly make me love you so much. Tom, I love you, not only for what you are, But for how you make me feel when I am with you. This scrapbook begins from the very first time that we met, and ends with pictures of us at our engagement. As we embark on a journey together may this memory book bring us much happiness as it did when we created it. | Love Always, | Augustine | October 18, 2010

4: We first Met at Ben & Ida Washington's Home on Sunday, October 18th in Salisbury, NC. Tom was attending the 108th Ministerial Training School class and I was visiting a dear friend.

5: Monday, February 8, 2010 | FIRST COMMUNICATION SINCE WE MET

6: Life brings simple pleasures to us every day. It is up to us to make them wonderful memories. CathyAllen | First Phone Call: Monday, February 08, 2010 @ 9:26 PM. The call ended at 11:00 PM

7: Friday, February 11th | Tom: "Why would a woman who can have her pick of any eligible brothers choose to get in contact with me, someone who considers himself just an average guy? | Tom: "When I saw you for the first time I thought that you were very beautiful. Now after talking with you these few times, I can truthfully say that you are beautiful both inside and out. You posses many fine and endearing qualities, which make you truly beautiful in my eyes." | Augustine: "When I see you, what stands out to me are your fine spiritual qualities, which many of the brothers I have met are seriously lacking." (I had to obtain his email address to make contact to send him a copy of the pictures that he had requested.)

8: Augustine, I am very fond of you. In fact, I’m drawn to you more and more. I really enjoy every minute we spend together. On a bad day, I could see myself coming home to you and just spending time with you would change my mood. I am so thankful to Jehovah for you. | You make me rich like Solomon. When I think to myself that ‘this woman loves ME’ – WOW! I may not have a dime, but when I am with you I am Solomon rich. | July 2010

9: July 2010 | "Insert comment

10: Tom, I am so very thankful to Jehovah to be a part of his world-wide family. As a result, one of my goals has always been to serve wherever Jehovah needed me. Shortly after we began talking, I talked to Jehovah and told Him if his will for me involved going to the Chicago area to serve, 'I am willing to go.' | October 17, 2009 | The day before my life changed

11: You are greatly respected, Always. You are greatly appreciated, yes, Always. ...And you are greatly Valued... apparently much more than you know.

15: August 27, 2010 | "Augustine, you are very, very special to me. You move me in a very special way." | "Tom the Bomb"

16: 5/29/10 | May 28 -30th

17: chicago, il

18: June 25 - 28th | "The Best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched, but are felt in the heart." | FIRST DATE | Botanical Gardens | 6/26/10

19: "To Love a person is to learn the song that's in their heart. | St. Louis, MO | And to sing it to them when they have forgotten."

20: Spent Time Together in St. Louis

21: "Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own." | June 25 - 28th | Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition.

22: "Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction."

23: "If I know what Love is, It's because of you." | "Night and day, you are the one."

25: “You don't love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear.” | Love is when you look into someone's eyes and see their heart.

31: "Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own." | September 16 - 20th | Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition.

32: Gifts Given to One Another

33: You may redeem this phone card for 20 minutes of time with me anytime - day or night.

34: Songs played for me to wake up to | Theme Song from Romeo & Juliet - Hubert Laws 7/6/2010 | You're As Right As Rain - The Stylistics 7/15/2010

37: From: Tom Rhodes [mailto:tomrhodes3@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 9:37 AM To: Floyd, Augustine; Augustine Floyd Subject: Just thinking... ...about you....again... (believe I'm beginning to detect a pattern here...) Thank you you so much for all of the loving things you continue to do. You are greatly appreciated and valued highly as someone very special and very dear to me. Know that you are, as always, in my thoughts. Know that you are in my heart. Have a great day, Sweetheart ! Your Man -Tom. | August 30th | From: Floyd, Augustine Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 10:09 AM To: 'Tom Rhodes' Subject: RE: Just thinking... Hi sweetheart, I thank you also for your kind words of appreciation for what I have done for you and others. It is so comforting to know that I have found a secure place in your heart, for you have found one in mine. Have a great day sweetheart, and as I work hard, I will think of your kind words for they have made my day. Love Always, Augustine | Memorable Emails sent to one another

38: Hi Augustine; I was just thinking of you, and wanted you to know that you are in my thoughts......when I woke this morning, and the wind was blowing, and a storm was brewing, the first thing that came to my mind was, "I wish Augustine could be here too, near me, to help me to feel warm." I then imagined you being here,.. glad to be near, but concerned about the increasing storm around us...but I'd made sure you were safe and secure in my arms. It's later now. The storm is past, but thoughts of have not decreased. Throughout the day, I continue to think of you. I ask myself, "what is this girl doing to me ? " ...on my mind again while I should be getting things done... ( I did say to you long ago that you can be "a very sweet distraction ") :-) Thank you so much for all of the wonderful things which you done for me.Your many acts of kindness, concern and generosity are surpassed only by great selflessness. You are not only on my mind, but have touched my heart. You are very special to me. You can never forget that. Caring about others can be a risky business. Thank you for taking a chance and caring about me... and for loving me. How sweet is to be loved by you. Not only are you good to me, but you are good for me. You help me in more ways than you now understand. By just being who you are, you make me more of the man I need to be. How can I thank you for all of that !?! I appreciate you so much, Baby...I miss you...and I Love You. You are my lady, and I am your man, there for you Girl. Thanks for making my life so sweet. (believe I'm beginning to detect a pattern here...) Thank you you so much for all of the loving things you continue to do. You are greatly appreciated and valued highly as someone very special and very dear to me. Know that you are, as always, in my thoughts. Know that you are in my heart. Have a great day, Sweetheart ! Your Man -Tom.

39: September 24th | Tom, Your words were so very, very tender to my heart, that I almost started to cry here at work when I read them. I look forward one day to snuggling up with you too on a windy day, or evening. There are many times Tom when my mind drifts to you and the beautiful words that you have expressed to me. I am so thankful to Jehovah for having noticed you and for opening up my heart you to. It is a scary thing to let someone in after you have been hurt. But I trust Jehovah and His direction in my life and it has proved to be the best thing in life. When I think of what I have done for you I am reminded of something someone once told me. He said that when you love someone, you must find nonverbal ways to show them. They need to see tangible evidence of your love for them. He also said that love is a verb and requires action. When we show people just how much we love them, it can only result in them doing the same thing, which bestows upon you a blessing that is so very sweet. I thank you Tom for not allowing your circumstances in life dictate the type of person that you are or will become. It has not embittered you. It is so nice to see that you are becoming the man that you need to be. A sister that has been married for 30+ years told me that a good woman will help her man to improve who he is; he will be a better man because of her. It is my hope that as we continue to grow in our love for one another, we can improve in the people we are which will benefit the congregation we are privileged to be a part of, and more importantly it will bring praise to our great God Jehovah. You have made my life so sweet with your love. I wake everyday with a smile on my face and end the day with a smile on my face – all because of you. Love Always, Augustine

42: Memorable Text Messages Sent to One Another | Tom: (8:45 AM): Hey Girl...I am having coffee at McD's ... Can u get off & join me ? That would be nice !!! Let me know ...Tom Augustine: (9:05 AM): Hi Sweetheart, I would gladly join u 4 coffee any day or night. Thx 4 the invitation. ;) I'm on my way. c u soon. Tom: (9:23 AM): 1/2 Great ! Need the address? I'm at the one on Grant at the village . I'm waiting to meet you b4 service. Bring your BEAUTIFUL SMILE with you, . . . | July 23, 2010 | . . . Baby . . . Just my seeing that for a moment will definitely make my whole day brighter and better ! You have that effect . . . Guess you got it like that . TTYL . Augustine: (9:30 AM): ;) Awwww thank u Baby 4 making my day. I look so 4ward 2 the time when we can spend a minute enjoying each other's companionship. That will bring a smile 2 my lips that will not easily be removed. Enjoy your day in the field ministry. I wish that I were out w/ u.ttyl.

43: Augustine: (11:02 AM): Hi sweetheart, Working on my 2nd cup of coffee & thought about u. I really enjoyed our family worship last night. Thank u sooooooooo much for being the spiritual man that I can love & respect. Have a great day Babe. | July 28, 2010

44: Hi Sweetheart, Thank you for a wonderful week. Receiving your wake-up calls for the past week have truly brightened my day and put a smile on my face every day. The time that we spend together is so so nice; and I enjoy every minute that I am with you. Love Always, Augustine | September 16-20th | eCards | July 16th | July 9th | Tom: You make me happy You make me glad You make me believe In every dream I ever had Time spent with you Could never make me blue Memories of the time we spent together recently Forever in my mind they'll be I will remember this time forever It will be my treasure Till we once again Can be together... Love Always, Augustine

45: Hello Sweetheart, I just wanted to thank you for being such a nice kind and loving person. It has been six months since we began getting to know one another and I can truthfully say that it has been the best 6 months of my life. I have enjoyed every minute that I have spent with you and look forward to many more minutes spent just enjoying your company. May Jehovah continue to bless us as we continue to draw close to Him and to one another. Love Always, Augustine | August 04, 2010 | eCards

46: Hi Sweetheart, I received this poem and had to send it to you. It conveys how I feel at this very moment. I hope you feel similar. If I Could If there was a place that I could go I would choose to be Anywhere with you If I could wake up anywhere I would choose to be . . . Any place that would place me next to you. If there were hearts all over the world That I could steal . . . I would steal only yours and keep if forever. If I could have any adventure Live my wildest dreams They would all be spent basking in the glow of your love If I could choose any ending to the day that I have lived, I would choose to be warm and safe . . . And lying with my arms wrapped around you. | August 18, 2010 | If there was any life I could live I would make a list of a thousand choices For a thousand lifetimes And every one Would be a life lived intimately well With you, my love | Love, Augustine

48: You are in my Mind, my Heart, even my Soul. You told me that you loved me for the first time on July 17th. Those were the sweetest words that have ever come across your lips. Deep inside the recesses of my heart, those words have found pleasure. And guess what? I Love You too Baby. | Tom,

59: You are cordially invited to the Wedding of Augustine Floyd and Eugene Thomas Rhodes III on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses Johnston Road Charlotte, NC 282 | This book ends with the engagement of Tom and Augustine and the wedding announcement: